Rio governor urges end of protests against him

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — The governor of Rio de Janeiro has appealed “as a father” to critics to call off the protests they’ve been staging in front of his beachfront apartment on and off since June.

Sergio Cabral has said the demonstrations are disrupting the lives of his children, who are 6 and 11. He also suggested the protests would be more appropriate in front of the governor’s palace, his place of work.

Cabral said at a Monday news conference: “I’m making an appeal from the heart, as a father.”

Demonstrators allege Cabral is corrupt and are calling for his impeachment as well as an investigation into spending on the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics, which Rio is hosting.

The protests against Cabral began during mass, nationwide protests that swept Brazil in June.